Guadeloupe

overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)

Guadeloupe as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 68 fields, one of 17 editions from 1990 to 2006.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBasse-Terre

Area1,780 km2

1990

Every edition of Guadeloupe

Populationas each edition published it

342,175 people July 1990 · 452,776 in 2006

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.1 children per woman 1990 · 1.9 in 2006

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 8.41 in 2006

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $4,700 in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Total area

1,780km2

land area: 1,760 km2Comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

306km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity

Terrain

Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation

Natural resources

cultivable land, beaches, and climate that foster tourism

Land use

18% arable land;
5% permanent crops;
13% meadows and pastures;
40% forest and woodland;
24% other;
includes 1% irrigated

Environment

subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano

Note

located 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

People

14 fields

Population

342,175

(July 1990), growth rate 0.8% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

20Death

Ethnic divisions

black or mulatto 90%white 5%less than 5% East Indian; Lebanese; Chinese

Religion

Roman Catholic 95%Hindu and pagan African 5%

Literacy

70%

over

Nationality

noun--Guadeloupian(s); adjective--Guadeloupe

Labor force

120,000; 53.0% services, government, and commerce, 25.8% industry, 21.2% agriculture

Government

Overseas department of France

18 fields

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Paul PROUST (since November 1989)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene Captant;
Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard Celeste;
Socialist Party (PSG), Dominique Larifla;
Independent Republicans;
Union for French Democracy (UDF);
Union for a New Majority (UNM)

Suffrage

universal at age 18 General Council --last held NA 1986 (next to be held by NA 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(42 total) number of seats by party NA;
Regional Council--last held on 16 March 1986 (next to be held by 16 March 1992);
results--RPR 33.1%, PS 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, others 3.8%;
seats--(41 total) RPR 15, PS 12, PCG 10, UDF 4;
French Senate--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994);
Guadeloupe elects two representatives;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) PCG 1, PS 1;
French National Assembly--last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1994);
Guadeloupe elects four representatives;
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat

Other political or pressure groups

Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG);
Popular Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI);
General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG);
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G);
Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)

Diplomatic representation

as an overseas department of France, the interests of Guadeloupe are represented in the US by France

Economy

The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$1.1billion

per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.0%

(1987)

Unemployment rate

25%

(1983)

Budget

Revenues

$251 millionExpenditures

$251 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and income and social transfers. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands.

The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France.

Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.

Exports

$109 million (f.o.b., 1986);
commodities--bananas, sugar, rum;
partners--France 72%, Martinique 16% (1984)

Imports

$792 million (c.i.f., 1986);
commodities--vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products;
partners--France 59% (1984)